Automatic leak responsive valve

Abstract

In accordance with the principles of the invention, an automatic shut-off valve is provided for use with a fluid utilization device. The valve automatically cuts off water to the utilization device should the utilization device develop a leak. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the valve includes a valve assembly having a valve body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve member movable between first and second positions, and an element biasing the valve member to the second position. An actuator is coupled to the valve. The actuator comprises a fluid responsive member coupled to the element to maintain the valve member in the first position in the absence of fluid. The fluid responsive member becomes weakened in the presence of the fluid such that the fluid responsive member is severed thereby releasing the actuator such that the valve member automatically moves to the second position.

1 . A valve for use with a fluid utilization device, comprising: 
 a valve assembly having a valve body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve member movable between first and second positions, an element biasing said valve member to said second position;    an actuator coupled to said valve, said actuator comprising a fluid responsive member coupled to said biasing element to maintain said valve member in said first position in the absence of fluid, said fluid responsive member changing its physical properties in the presence of said fluid such that said fluid responsive member does not maintain said valve member in said first position and said biasing element causes said valve member to automatically move to said second position.    
   
   
       2 . A water purification system, comprising: 
 a reverse osmosis system having an inlet coupleable to a water source; and    an automatic shut off valve disposed between said reverse osmosis system and said water source. said automatic shutoff valve comprising: a valve assembly having a valve body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve member movable between first and second positions, an element biasing said valve member to said second position;    an actuator coupled to said valve, said actuator retaining said valve in said first position in opposition to force provided by said biasing element, said actuator comprising a fluid responsive member coupled to said biasing element to maintain said valve member in said first position in the absence of fluid, said fluid responsive member changing its physical condition in the presence of water such that said fluid responsive member releases said actuator such that said valve member automatically moves to said second position thereby preventing further flow of water from said water source.    
   
   
       3 . A leak control arrangement, comprising: 
 a valve assembly comprising a valve movable between a first state and a second state, a bias element for exerting a first force urging said valve to said first state, and a fluid responsive member coupled to said valve and acting to restrain said valve in said first state in opposition to said first force, said fluid responsive member physically changing in responsive to fluid to allow said bias element to move said valve from said first state to said second state.    
   
   
       4 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 3 , comprising: 
 a holding element adapted to hold said fluid responsive member in proximity to a fluid leak collection area.    
   
   
       5 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said fluid responsive member comprises a strip, said strip becoming weakened in the presence of fluid; and    said first force is such that when said strip becomes weakened, said first force is sufficient to cause said weakened strip to separate.    
   
   
       6 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said valve is a lever actuated valve.    
   
   
       7 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said bias member comprises a spring coupled to said lever.    
   
   
       8 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said bias element comprises a spring loaded lever.    
   
   
       9 . A leak control arrangement, comprising: 
 a valve assembly having an inlet coupleable to source of water, an outlet coupleable to water utilization apparatus, a valve body, a valve seat, valve member disposed within said body and movable between an open position away from said valve seat and a closed position against said valve seat, a bias element for exerting a first force urging said valve to said first state; and    a single piece fluid responsive member coupled to said bias element and acting to restrain said valve member in said open position in opposition to said first force, said fluid responsive member separating in the presence of water to allow said bias element to move said valve member from said open position to said closed position.    
   
   
       10 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 9 , comprising: 
 holding apparatus adapted to retain said fluid responsive member in proximity to a water leak collection area.    
   
   
       11 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said fluid responsive member comprises a strip, said strip becoming weakened in the presence of fluid; and    said first force being sufficient to cause said weakened strip to separate, but not being sufficient to cause said strip to separate when said strip is not weakened.    
   
   
       12 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 9 , comprising: 
 a lever coupled to said valve member for moving said valve member between said open and closed positions, said bias element coupled to said lever.    
   
   
       13 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said bias member comprises a spring coupled to said lever and to said valve body.    
   
   
       14 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 13 , comprising: 
 holding apparatus adapted to retain said fluid responsive member in proximity to a water leak collection area.    
   
   
       15 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said fluid responsive member comprises a strip, said strip becoming weakened in the presence of fluid; and    said first force being sufficient to cause said weakened strip to separate, but not being sufficient to cause said strip to separate when said strip is not weakened.    
   
   
       16 . A leak control arrangement in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said bias element comprises a spring loaded lever coupled to said valve member.    
   
   
       17 . A water utilization system comprising: 
 a water utilization device;    a valve disposed upstream of said water utilization device, said valve comprising:    a valve assembly having a valve body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve member movable between first and second positions, an element biasing said valve member to said first position; and    a fluid responsive member coupled to said biasing element to maintain said valve member in said first position in the absence of leakage water from said utilization device, said fluid responsive member being weakened in the presence of said leakage water such that said fluid responsive member is severed thereby allowing said bias force to automatically move said valve member to said second position.    
   
   
       18 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a water conditioning system.    
   
   
       19 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said water conditioning system comprises a reverse osmosis unit.    
   
   
       20 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a water heater.    
   
   
       21 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a washing machine.    
   
   
       22 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a boiler.    
   
   
       23 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a hot water heating system.    
   
   
       24 . A water utilization system, comprising: 
 water utilization apparatus having an input coupled to a water source;    a valve assembly disposed between said water source and said water utilization apparatus input, said valve assembly comprising a valve movable between a first state and a second state, a bias element for exerting a first force urging said valve to said second state; and    a water responsive member coupled to said valve and acting to restrain said valve in said first state in opposition to said first force, said water responsive member being responsive to water leakage from said water utilization apparatus to shear thereby allowing said bias element to move said valve from said first position to said second position.    
   
   
       25 . A water utilization system, in accordance with  claim 24 , comprising: 
 a holding element adapted to hold said fluid responsive member in proximity to a leakage water collection area.    
   
   
       26 . A water utilization system, in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein: 
 said water responsive member comprises a strip, said strip becoming weakened in the presence of water; and    said first force at a level such that when said strip becomes weakened, said first force is sufficient to cause said weakened strip to separate.    
   
   
       27 . A water utilization system, in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said valve is a lever actuated valve.    
   
   
       28 . A water utilization system, in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said bias member comprises a spring coupled to said lever.    
   
   
       29 . A water utilization system, in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein: 
 said bias element comprises a spring loaded lever.    
   
   
       30 . A water utilization system, comprising: 
 water utilization apparatus;    a valve assembly having an inlet coupled to source of water, an outlet coupled to said water utilization apparatus, a valve body, a valve seat, valve member disposed within said body and movable between an open position away from said valve seat and a closed position against said valve seat, a bias element for exerting a first force urging said valve to said closed position; and    a fluid responsive member coupled to said bias element and acting to restrain said valve member in said open position in opposition to said first force, said fluid responsive member separating in the presence of water leaked from said water utilization apparatus to allow said bias element to move said valve member from said open position to said closed position.    
   
   
       31 . A water utilization system, in accordance with  claim 30 , comprising: 
 holding apparatus adapted to retain said fluid responsive member in proximity to a water leakage collection area.    
   
   
       32 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said fluid responsive member comprises a strip, said strip becoming weakened in the presence of water; and    said first force being sufficient to cause said weakened strip to separate, but not being sufficient to cause said strip to separate when said strip is not weakened.    
   
   
       33 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 30 , comprising: 
 a lever coupled to said valve member for moving said valve member between said open and closed positions, said bias element coupled to said lever.    
   
   
       34 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said bias member comprises a spring coupled to said lever and to said valve body.    
   
   
       35 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 34 , comprising: 
 holding apparatus adapted to retain said fluid responsive member in proximity to a water leak collection area.    
   
   
       36 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein: 
 said fluid responsive member comprises a strip, said strip becoming weakened in the presence of water; and    said first force being sufficient to cause said weakened strip to separate, but not being sufficient to cause said strip to separate when said strip is not weakened.    
   
   
       37 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said bias element comprises a spring loaded lever coupled to said valve member.    
   
   
       38 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a water conditioning system.    
   
   
       39 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 38 , wherein: 
 said water conditioning system comprises a reverse osmosis unit.    
   
   
       40 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a water heater.    
   
   
       41 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a washing machine.    
   
   
       42 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a boiler.    
   
   
       43 . A water utilization system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said water utilization device comprises a hot water heating system.    
   
   
       44 . A fluid responsive device for actuating a valve, comprising: 
 a strip of material that is resistant to separation when not in the presence of fluid and which is not resistant to separation when in the presence of fluid and subject to tension forces.    
   
   
       45 . A fluid responsive device for actuating a valve in accordance with  claim 44 , wherein: 
 said strip comprises paper.    
   
   
       46 . A fluid responsive device in accordance with  claim 44 , wherein: 
 a first portion of said strip is adapted to be retained proximate a fluid collection surface; and    a second portion of said strip being adapted to engage a valve actuator.